Beyonce made history on Sunday (Feb. 5) at the 2023 Grammy Awards by concurrently becoming the artist to win the most Grammy Awards (32) and becoming the first African-American woman to take home a gold trophy for Best Dance/Electronic Album. Trevor Noah (who hosted the event) announced the groundbreaking news, and afterwards the crowd gave the “Countdown” singer a howling standing ovation.

Beyonce‘s album “Renaissance” (2022) is what garnered her the unparalleled Grammy win. Fighting back tears, Queen Bey said in her acceptance speech: “I’m trying not to be too emotional, I’m trying to just receive this night. I want to thank God for protecting me, I’d like to thank my Uncle Johnny who’s not here but he’s here in spirit.” In addition, the Destiny’s Child member thanked her husband Jay-Z, her kids and her parents. At last, she gave thanks to the Recording Academy though not before giving praise to the LGBT community “for your love and inventing this genre.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSHUfH1W3yk

Beyonce, who had more nominations than any artist (9), won the award over Diplo, Rüfüs Du Sol, Odesza and Bonobo . She is the third African-American artist to win a Dance/Electronic Grammy, behind Kaytranada (for “Bubba” in 2020) and Black Coffee (for “Subconsciously” in 2021). The global sensation’s Grammy win is noteworthy for various reasons. The first being the landmark set. Additionally, the academy has officially recognized an album that salutes African-American musicians who created and publicized house and dance music.

The Grammys waited until 2004 to constitute the Dance/Electronic category, even though back in the 1970s the genre was already popular. Dance artists from black neighborhoods have for the most part been excluded not only by the Recording Academy, but from many dialogues outside of the community regarding dance. In a world where African-American women and LGBT persons that shaped, extensively impacted, and epitomized the genre (e.g. Grace Jones, Honey Dijon, Donna Summer, etc.), Beyonce’s Grammy win is a triumph for all those deriving from black communities.

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